SE Asia Stocks-Rise as US Fed signals gradual tightening

However, banking shares were among the top gainers in Southeast Asia. Futures augured a tepid start on Wall Street with Dow futures down 0.3 percent and S&P futures shedding 0.4 percent.

Financial stocks languished as USA yields fell after the Fed raised interest rates for the second time in three months, but did not flag any plans to accelerate the pace of monetary tightening.

Japanese benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.35 percent on Friday morning.

RATES FACTOR: The Fed is hoping to lift rates gradually off their record lows, where they stayed for seven years following the 2008 financial crisis.

Mobile giant SoftBank rose 0.57 percent to 8,413 yen while Fast Retailing, another market heavyweight, was down 0.59 percent at 36,620 yen. With strong economic reports in recent weeks, expectations that the Fed may stand pat this month have changed.

In South Korea, the Kospi was up 0.1 percent as the won weakened against the dollar.

ANALYST'S VIEWPOINT: "On the one hand, the market ponders a surprise hold, in which massive unwinding of positions could take place with the hike already priced in", said Jingyi Pan, a market strategist at IG in Singapore. Some investors thought the Fed may try to raise rates four times this year, but it has stuck with its forecast for three.

BUSY WEEK: The Bank of England, Bank of Japan and others around the world are also holding meetings this week. The U.K. government meanwhile could formally begin the process of exiting the European Union. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.2 percent to 5,795.20. The Netherlands has its own election this week, where politicians have also railed against the European Union and immigrants.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude added 11 cents to $48.86 a barrel.

The figure sent the dollar up against the yen - a plus for Japanese shares - but it retreated in Tokyo, trading at 114.70 yen, from 114.78 yen in NY. Brent crude, which is used to price worldwide oils, added 74 cents to $51.66 per barrel in London.

An index of the 45 most liquid stocks rose 2.19% to its highest in almost four months.

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